CSCT student takes her research to Parliament

CSCT PhD student Bethan Charles is attending Parliament to present her research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as part of STEM for BRITAIN on Monday 12 March.

Bethan’s poster on research about Materials for Future Solar Cells will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.

Bethan was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to appear in Parliament.

On presenting her research in Parliament, she said, “The ability to communicate science to a wider audience can be just as important as the science itself, I hope to learn more about how best to get good research listened to.”

“This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers.

“These early career engineers, mathematicians and scientists are the architects of our future and STEM for BRITAIN is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”

Bethan’s research has been entered into the chemistry session of the competition, which will end in a gold, silver and bronze prize-giving ceremony.

The gold medalist receives £2000, while silver and bronze receive £1250 and £750, respectively. The competition is judged by leading academics.

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee runs the event in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Biology, The Physiological Society and the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, with financial support from the Clay Mathematics Institute, Research Councils UK, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Society of Chemical Industry, Institute of Biomedical Science and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research and the Nutrition Society.